RDNC Celebrates 25th Anniversary

By Adam Brody

Concealed modestly behind a large row of bushes and a tall cypress tree, the red ceramic-shingled roofs and green trim of the Richmond District Neighborhood Center's (RDNC) Spanish-style bungalows create a relatively unassuming facade. Yet, the three beige stucco-covered buildings are home to the central nervous system of many area programs.

Celebrating 25 years of community service, the RDNC is holding it's annual fundraising event at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the event is hosted by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Sen. Barbara Boxer.

"The center's role is to offer cultural diversity and to provide a safe environment for the young to old by offering affordable childcare, after-school programs, music lessons and free art workshops," said Jane Louie, office manager and arts coordinator.

"Our main mission is to make life livable in the Richmond District," said Executive Director Pat Kaussen. "We try to address a lot of the challenges that families and individuals have living in our very expensive city."

Located at 741 30th Ave., between Balboa and Cabrillo streets, the RDNC serves the community through a number of outlets, with the majority of assistance through after-school programs provided at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

"We serve over 2,000 people a day through a myriad of programs," Kaussen said.

Chaperoning more than 300 students per year, the Richmond District After School Collaborative for elementary school students operates at Alamo, Lafayette, Cabrillo, George Peabody and Argonne schools. Activities include poetry, music, visual and performing arts classes, with tutoring and counseling services also available.

George Washington High School and Presidio Middle School host the Richmond Village Beacon - one of the eight beacon centers in San Francisco - which serves more than 1,000 students per year. The program offers computer, citizenship and ESL classes, as well as tutoring and leadership development, and a variety of recreational activities.

The Multi-Cultural Children's Arts Program serves approximately 500 children ages 6 to 12 through its 36 Saturday art workshops. The program culminates with a community-wide multi-cultural children's art fair held on the second Saturday in June.

The RDNC also hosts tenant programs, which use the facilities but are not run by the center. The Cross Cultural Family Center is an early childcare program serving more than 50 families, emphasizing self-esteem, cultural diversity and respect for parents.

"It's a wonderful organization with other sites across the city," Kaussen said. "There are two here, one for 2 year olds and one for 3 to 5 year olds."

Another tenant, the Community Music Center, instructs approximately 500 students with private lessons on piano, guitar, percussion, strings and voice. Fees are on a sliding scale and financial aid is available.

The RDNC also acts as a fiscal agent for other organizations, including the Richmond District Interfaith-Neighborhood Agency Coalition and Morning Stars Theatre, a Russian children's musical theater.

Built in the '20s or '30s, Kaussen said the RDNC's bungalows' "residential apartment" style comes from their origin as a birthing center and orphanage for unwed mothers. During the mid 1900s, the property was taken over by Lucinda Weeks, who established a residential school for handicapped children. The RDNC's creation came in 1980, when the then unused facility was scheduled for demolition.

"A notice went out that this property was going to be sold with a 100-year-long lease by the SF Unified School District for it to be turned into condos," Kaussen said. However, she said a grassroots community movement decided local services were more important than housing development.

"Two people spearheaded the effort, and stuck with it through the formative years: Linda Fries and Sue Lee," Kaussen said.

In 1990, as Kaussen was looking to get out of her career in the restaurant business, she was contacted by Fries, an acquaintance who offered her a leadership role with the RDNC. She has been there ever since. Though modest about her work, Kaussen's achievements are evident and echoed by her co-workers.

"Pat has steadily expanded the center's breadth of services and its reach into the community," said Deputy Director Lin Ishihara. "She has increased the scope of funding for the agency, as well as its connections with elected officials, governmental agencies and non-profit partners. She is passionate about the importance of community and she exemplifies the caring, inclusiveness and service that are at the root of the center's work."

Kaussen always tries to make the RDNC the focusÊfor community activities and events, said Charles Corsiglia, senior program director of the Richmond District After School Collaborative.

Regarding the future role of the RDNC, Kaussen said the center could be moving into the "housing business."

"Housing is a huge problem in San Francisco," Kaussen said.

One solution may be developing property already owned by the RDNC, which Kaussen said could be turned into low-cost housing - possibly for educators - in the next five to 10 years.